Skip to main content
HR 1235 100th Congress House

Merchant Seamen's Benefit Act

Official title: A bill to provide benefits to merchant seamen who served in the United States Merchant Marine during World War II.

Introduced: April 23, 1987 See on congress.gov
Armed Forces and National Security Merchant marineMerchant seamenShips and shippingVeterans' benefitsWorld War II
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 100th Congress ended
It never became law before the 100th Congress (1987–1988) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 21, 1987
Unfavorable Executive Comment Received From VA.
May 7, 1987
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Mar 2, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Merchant Marine.
Mar 2, 1987
Executive Comment Requested from DOT, DOD, VA.
Feb 25, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Feb 25, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Feb 25, 1987
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action May 21, 1987

Unfavorable Executive Comment Received From VA.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Merchant Seamen's Benefit Act - Provides for creditable active duty service for veterans' benefits purposes for certain individuals who served in the merchant marine during World War II, who were prisoners of war or civilian internees as the result of enemy action against merchant shipping, and who were in an accredited wartime maritime training program. Prohibits payment of benefits for periods before the date of enactment of this Act.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 1 Republican 1
R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Dec 17, 1987
BEREUTER, DOUGLAS
· May 28, 1987
LIPINSKI, WILLIAM
· Apr 23, 1987
 D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Feb 25, 1987
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1235: Merchant Seamen's Benefit Act. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1235/
MLA
"H.R. 1235: Merchant Seamen's Benefit Act." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1235/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1235, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1235/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1235: Merchant Seamen's Benefit Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1235/)
Report a problem